Kiwis for Conquest Part 2a: Assembling 1st platoon

Made up some bases for 1st platoon. They are advancing and setting up a firing position in a walled park with a couple of trees. Trying something a bit new with the bases so that each platoon is telling a story. 

Kiwis for Conquest Part1: The counting

So I have decided on a list for Conquest:

Here is a breakdown of what I have painted, what needs to be painted and what needs to be bought.

First off is the core of the force. Two New Zealand Rifle platoons. These I have purchased (Battlefronts Commonwealth Rifle platoon) and require no more converting as they are perfect for the job. I just need to paint them.

Next is the AT platoon which I also have but the crew need to be replaced as they are from Battlefronts western front british line (wrong helments) or were from a pack of Para 6pdrs which I bought ages back to get the crew for my para 17pdrs (before BF released crew separately). Not painted.

Then there is the Sherman platoons. I have one platoon painted from my Mid War Div Cav in Italy. They look like:

Note the Camo. This was typical for the Kiwis in Italy. They are based with a few of Battlefronts Italy British infantry range which are as good as their new commonwealth figures.

The second Sherman platoon is purchased but not painted.

Next up is the Div Cav platoon. I have lots of Staghounds, some might say too much. Cassino only allows me 1 troop so here it is:

Again more figure adorn the bases.

The also own the M10 platoon but they need to painted. 31 AT battery got equipped with M10 tank destroyers instead of towed 17pdrs. They came to them in the standard Green and were never repainted in the Khaki/black camo.

Next is the US 105s. I don't currently own these as I get bored quickly playing Americans. Will have to pick these up from the local store if they still have some this week.

So thats the list. I have most of the figures. I just need to start painting.
Here are some pics to get an idea of the colour of the Guns, infantry and the transports used by the Kiwis in Italy. I should have a platoon of the new Commonwealth infantry painted this weekend.

Carriers, hats, guns and fun

Assembled some more carriers for my EW NZ Div Cav force. A collection of weapon swaps, head swaps, pose adjustments and a new hat for one lucky trooper.

Conquest, Flames of War 2011

Looks like the Waterloo demo game is a no go so I am jumping ship to flames of war. It's a 1750pt Late War competition and I have decided to carry on the Kiwi theme of this year.

Since FE1 isn't allow I can't use the overpriced staghound list so they are forcing me to use Cassino and it's 1 troop of staghounds. Life can be tough sometimes.

Late War Kiwis are an interesting for to run. Historically in this period they were desperatly short of men and even disbanded several gun platoons to bulk up the infantry. Also Freyberg as under huge pressure from back home to reduce losses which is reflected in Flames of Wars's 1000 man limit special rule.

So here is what I am taking:

HQ +2xPioneer teams
Rifle platoon with sticky bombs
Rifle platoon with sticky bombs
AT platoon 4x6pdrs
Armoured platoon 3xShermans
Armoured platoon 3xShermans
Div Cav platoon 3xStaghounds
31 AT battery 4xM10s CT
US 105 battery 4x105s

Scout Carriers WIP

Here are some shots of my Early War army I am assembling for Rallypoint this year. Its based on the exploits of New Zealand 2nd Division's Cav Regiment in Greece.

It is a work in progress and I still need to do some detail work on the headlights, tracks, bases and unit markings.

The New Zealand Div Cav used a variety of carriers throughout 1941-1943. In Greece 1941 they used a mixture of Scout, Bren and universal carriers. Depicted here are 3 Scout carriers. The will most likely end up as C squadron.

A typical NZ Squadron in Greece would have a HQ unit of 2x Marmon Herrington MkII Armoured cars and 2x "Carriers"
Then there would be two troops each with 3 Marmon Herrington MkII Armoured cars. Then 4 more troops each with 3 "Carriers"

Div Cav all the way to Rallypoint

Continuing with my Theme of NZ Div Cav this year for flames I have just started on the Early War version. With Simon taking the desert version I decided on the more challenging Div Cav in Greece.

The basic organisation was the HQ in Marmon Herrington MkII Armoured cars with an additional 2 carriers filling out the HQ.
The first two troops were equipped with Marmon Herrington MkII Armoured cars. The remaining four troops were equipped with carriers.

The carriers used with  a mix of the Scout, Bren and Universal carriers. Here are 3 carriers I have done some minor conversion from the Battlefront early war scout carrier blister pack. Look forward to me trying to scratch build some Marmon Herrington MkII (early) turrets for my armoured car troops.

Uniformed!

The Prussian army in the later Napoleonic period wore a variety of uniforms. The reserve regiments were to wear the standard Prussian Reserve uniform a simple grey tunic cut in a style similar to the Line regiments but without any "tails". However due to the influx of men and little materials some regiments wore uniforms purchased from the British or some even still wore the uniforms they wore when fighting for the French. All uniforms were modified by the wearer to look more "Prussian" such was the strength of the national pride unheard of pre-Napoleon.

The two main styles of uniform were the Kollet and the Litewka. The Kollet is often associated with the Line infantry. Its a solid tunic made from a dark blue cloth for everything except for Jaegers who wore green. Turnbacks were always in red. The collars and cuffs colours denoted what region the unit was from. The straps were white except for the Fusiliers who wore black cross straps.

Here are some examples from my 28mm Army for Lasalle:

Mounted Jaeger Officer his red collar denotes he is from a West Prussian Regiment. He is wearing the Kollet.

 Note the black straps for the cartridge box for light infantry and the red turnbacks.

 2nd Regiment of Dragoons, 1st West Prussian. This unit is a West Prussian unit but didn't have the traditional red collars. They wore a light blue Litewka with white facings.

 The horse has a uniform as well, light blue and lined with white just like the rider.

 Standard Kollet for this line regiment, Red collars and cuffs.

 Note the white straps and the coat tided across the chest. This is a universally Prussian thing and common in both line, reserve and landwehr.

 Landwehr wear the Litewka, note the West Prussian red in the collars.

 White shoulder straps denotes 1st squadron. The horse also has red facings. White and black pennons denotes landwehr. 

 Landwehr  infantry did not wear the covered Shako instead they wore cap lined with the regiments facing colour. This is the first battalion of the Westfalen regiement. The wear the Litewka.

This is a foot artillery officer. While it looks similar in style to the Litewka it is made from a much nicer cloth to the uniforms issued to the Landwehr.

While I don't have any Uhlans in my collection they wore the Kollet even though they were issued with the warmer Litewka. It is believed that they refused to wear the Litewka because it would make the look identical to the Landwehr cav. Something that those proud lancers would need want to be mistaken with.